China's New Airlines on Ice

Filed in archive Travel News on August 15, 2007

Keeping with the China theme for today's second post: Chinese aviation officials have announced that they will not approve any new airlines until 2010. There are concerns about the rate of the industries growth.

As the regulator, we have clearly noted... development problems of lack of technical personnel, airspace and airport ability are getting daily more pronounced.

Though this might prove frustrating to the people who have to find flights to and from China's outlying cities, it is also an example of foresight and wisdom that has become rare during China's breakneck-paced development. Is this an anomaly, or will it become the norm for the officials of a country that is under even-increasing international scrutiny.